Hello, welcome.

Thank you for joining me for today's English lesson.

My name is Mrs. Butterworth.

Now this lesson focuses on the character of Mrs. Birling from "An Inspector Calls" so do make sure you have a copy of the text because we're going to be referring to it throughout the lesson as we explore the wonderful and interesting character of Mrs. Birling.

Shall we get started? In this lesson, you will understand and explain the presentation and significance of Mrs. Birling.

Let's look at some key words that will be useful for the lesson today.

So keep your eyes open 'cause you might see them pop up.

These words are stereotypical, empathy, moral, impertinent and superior.

Now, stereotypical refers to a widely held, but oversimplified belief or idea about a particular group of people or things.

So we're going to be thinking about how Mrs. Birling may present a stereotypical Edwardian woman.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.

Moral, and this is quite an important word when we're thinking about "An Inspector Calls," because moral is related to principles of right and wrong behaviour.

Impertinent, one of Mrs. Birling's favourite words in the play.

She very often accuses miss the inspector and Sheila of being impertinent.

And this means to be rude or show a lack of respect.

And then finally, superior is acting in a way that shows you think, shows that you think you are better or more important than others.

So the outline of our lesson looks like this.

We're going to start by looking at Mrs. Birling and introducing her.

We're then going to look at Mrs. Birling's interrogation before finally thinking about how we can write about Mrs. Birling.

So let's start with the first part of our lesson on Mrs. Birling.

So we have an image here that could potentially look like Mrs. Birling, and I'd like you to discuss, please, how might Mrs. Birling fit or challenge the idea of a stereotypical upper class Edwardian woman? So you may want to consider ideas around class, gender, power, attitudes and values.

So how might Mrs. Birling fit or challenge the idea of a stereotypical upper class Edwardian woman? Pause the video so you have time to discuss your answer to the question.

If you're working on your own, you can think quietly to yourself or you could even jot some ideas down.

Pause the video and off you go.

Okay, so let's feed back some of those brilliant ideas.

So you may have thought about how she fits and how she challenges.

So in terms of fits, so arguably a stereotypical upper class Edwardian woman would be proud of the social status and class superiority.

So it's kind of this superior attitude when you are upper class.

You know, she's very detached, unemotional, dismissive of the working class and resistant to change.

So arguably it could be said that these things fit that stereotypical upper class Edwardian woman.

In terms of challenge, she's quite assertive, isn't she? So this may not fit to our own assumptions about what an upper class Edwardian woman would be like.

She's dominant and she often overpowers Mr. Birling, but she lacks that expected moral leadership.

Okay, so let's really think about Mrs. Birling in a bit more depth.

So I'd like us to look at some quotations about Mrs. Birling from the start of Act 1 and the end of Act 3.

So we're looking at her at the starts and at the end.

So in Act 1, she is described as cold and superior.

And then in Act 3 she dismisses Eric's and Sheila's reactions saying they are overtired and she claims everyone will be amused.

Okay, some really telling quotations there on the character.

And I'd like you to discuss, please, what do the descriptions of Mrs. Birling and her reaction at the end of her end of the play tell us about her character and priorities? Hmm, what do you think? Pause the video to come up with your answer now.

Get discussing.

Okay, so you may have considered some of the following ideas.

So those descriptions really establish her from the outset as confident and commanding, okay? Her reaction at the end and at the start really shows her clear support for traditional social hierarchies.

You know, she's upper class, she's happy with her privilege.

Her unchanging attitude towards social responsibility perhaps emphasises her dismissive attitudes towards the working class, which we see developed when we hear about her relationship to Eva, that perhaps she values status and reputation over kindness and compassion even towards her own family members.

Now arguably, Mrs. Birling's attitudes about class power and social responsibility conform to these stereotypical beliefs of the time.

And Priestley uses the characters of both Mr. And Mrs. Birling to embody and critique these views.

He's not saying that everybody from this class or in this position are exactly the same.

He's using them almost like a tool in which to explore his ideas.

So at the end of Act 3, Mrs. Birling claims that everyone will be amused.

Which answer is the best explanation of this? You need to pick A, B or C now.

Okay, are we ready for the answer? Are you feeling confident? Well done to everyone that said B.

It really emphasises her unchanging attitude towards social responsibility and class hierarchies.

So I'd like, please, for your first practise task to discuss.

We have a statement here.

It could be argued that Mrs. Birling represents a stereotypical upper class Edwardian woman.

How far do you agree or disagree with this statement? So use the grid to develop ideas and add evidence.

So we've got these sentence starters here, more specifically, more precisely, in particular.

And I've done an example for you here.

So here's the example.

I agree with this statement as Mrs. Birling does represent some aspects of a stereotypical upper class Edwardian woman, in particular, her dismissive attitude towards the working class as an example there too.

So think about everything you have discussed so far and then discuss that statement and how far you agree or disagree with it.

If you are working alone, you may wish to just jot your answers down.

When you're ready, pause the video and I can't wait to hear what you come up with.

Off you go.

Fantastic, some really excellent lively discussions happening there.

So let's see what Jacob has come up with.

So here is part of Jacob's response and he has said that he agrees.

"So I agree to an extent as Mrs. Birling represents a stereotypical upper class Edwardian woman, more specifically through her snobbery and lack of empathy.

For example, she says that Eva Smith is to blame.

This highlights her cold, judgmental attitude towards the working class." A lovely response from Jacob there.

But I now want you to consider, do you agree or disagree? So think back to your own discussions, and then discuss, do you agree or disagree with Jacob's response? Pause the video to give yourself time to come up with the answers.

So we thought about Mrs. Birling and how she is presented.

We are now going to move on to Mrs. Birling's interrogation, which is very interesting, isn't it? Now we know that in Act 1, Priestley establishes the characterization of Mrs. Birling as detached and unempathetic.

In Act 2, Mrs. Birling is interrogated by the inspector, and Priestley reveals even more about her attitudes towards responsibility, social class, and her lack of empathy for those in need.

The inspector really starts to pull Mrs. Birling apart, if you like.

We really start to understand her more in Act 2, don't we? With that being said, let's focus our attention on Act 2.

So I'd like you please to read Act 2.

So look for page 29 and the stage direction show the inspector, it says it regards Mrs. Birling to page 32, the end of Mrs. Birling's line where she said ends the line on girl.

Okay, so look for that short extracts and that's what I'd like you to read there from page 29 to 32.

And as you read, I would like you to consider, please, how does Priestley continue to present Mrs. Birling as powerful and confident? And how does Mrs. Birling try to assert her power? Okay, so pause the video to give yourself time to read that section and consider your answers to the questions.

Off you go.

Okay, so let's share some ideas there.

So in terms of how she's presented, this idea of powerful and confident and her asserting her power, we have the stage directions where they describe her she moves very briskly and self-confidently.

So even in her movements, we get this impression that she's very powerful or considers herself quite powerful.

She feigns this ignorance, doesn't she? And it's described as affective, affecting and smiling.

So she pretends not to know what's going on, which I think is very interesting despite the severity of the situation.

And she speaks to the inspector grandly.

So she's really laying it on, isn't she? She wants the inspector to understand, you know, that she's this superior woman that she, oh, she's totally innocent, like she's really laying it on.

I think it's brilliant.

She mirrors Mr. Birling in Act 1.

So she references Mr. Birling's role as Lord Mayor and magistrate.

So she does exactly the same thing as Mr. Birling in referencing his role and status and in an attempt to try and intimidate the inspector.

So she's putting on all of these errs and name dropping, all of these roles, to really assert her power and try and intimidate the inspector.

She also tries to control her family.

So she tells Sheila that she's just tired and dismisses her and tries to send her to bed and tells her not to contradict.

And she calls the inspector impertinent.

So she's really crossed with the inspector and this idea that he would dare to interrogate someone of her standing.

Okay, true or false? Mrs. Birling accuses the inspector of being impertinent.

Is that true or false? Come up with your answer now.

Well done to everyone that said true but you now need to tell me why that statement is true.

Off you go.

Okay, here's my answer.

You may have something similar.

So Mrs. Birling accuses the inspector of being impertinent because he challenges her authority and moral superiority by questioning her actions and exposing her hypocrisy.

She says it a few times throughout the play.

I think she calls Sheila impertinent too.

It's such a great word, isn't it? And it really shows how important she really thinks she is.

At the start of Act 2, Mrs. Birling and Sheila shares some interesting and revealing interactions.

And these include, so when Mrs. Birling reenters on page 29, it describes Sheila feeling her lack of awareness and arrogance.

There's a real tension between the two characters and what's happening.

And then Sheila urgently tries to warn Mrs. Birling to give up any pretences and she says that Mrs. Birling will be sorry and that she needs to stop.

So the moment Mrs. Birling reenters, there's this tension and Sheila just urgently trying to make her mother give up whatever it is that she's doing.

And then when Sheila reveals Eric's drinking and undermines Mrs. Birling's authority, she leaves Mrs. Birling to respond bitterly.

So there's this almost shift in power, isn't there, between Sheila and her mother as it's revealed that Sheila knows more than Mrs. Birling and that Sheila is trying to get through to Mrs. Birling, trying to, like, take her down a peg or two, if you like.

On page 32, and this is a really key moment, Sheila references a wall, okay? And Priestley is really effectively using a metaphor in Sheila's reference.

And I'd like you to discuss, please, what do you think the wall metaphor symbolises? Now think about the barriers that the Birlings create in society, okay? So what might the wall metaphor symbolise? And think about the barriers that the Birlings create in society.

So pause the video so you've got time to discuss your answer to the question or think quietly to yourself.

Okay, we'll share our answers in a moment.

Off you go.

Okay, so you may have considered some of the following.

So Sheila references this wall and this metaphor may represent class and power.

So how the Birlings use their status to separate themselves from the struggle of others.

And Sheila's saying to her mother, you know, "You mustn't build up a wall, you've got to get rid of this wall." There's a denial of responsibility.

So the Birlings avoid taking responsibility for their actions, especially towards the lower class.

So again, Sheila's almost using this wall to say, we can't just deny these things anymore.

And it could also foreshadow how the inspector breaks down any barriers to expose the truth about the Birlings' attitudes and misuse of power.

So there's a really interesting use of language there from Priestley and it's a really key moment for Sheila in her journey of realisation and how she speaks to her mother.

So true or false? Priestley uses the metaphor of a wall to symbolise how the Birlings use their power to help others.

Is that true or is that false? Come up with your answer now.

Yes, it's false.

So it was to symbolise how the Birlings use their power to help others.

We know that this isn't true, don't we? But you need to say why that statement is false.

And here's the answer.

The wall symbolises how the Birlings use their power to exclude and ignore others, not to help them.

The wall represents their emotional and social barriers, which they create to protect their privileged status.

And we know that Sheila is warning against this because the inspector will ultimately knock down that wall, that barrier.

So in this lesson, towards the end of the lesson, we're going to consider this question, how does Priestley portray the character of Mrs. Birling throughout "An Inspector Calls," okay? So I want you to have that question in your mind as you complete this second task.

So I'd like you to read Act 2 from page 43 where the inspector says yes to page 49, which is the end of Act 2.

And as you do this, as you read, I would like you to complete the grid so it's on the following slide and worksheet, finding the best quotation to match the statements.

And then I'd like you to consider how your findings from this extract link to the question.

So let's look at that grid together.

Okay, so we have our explanation there of Mrs. Birling.

Mrs. Birling shows disdain for the working class and class prejudice.

Priestley uses dramatic irony to expose Mrs. Birling's arrogance.

Mrs. Birling refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva's death, showing her lack of empathy.

And Mrs. Birling uses her power to deny Eva Smith help.

So your task is to find quotations that match that explanation.

Okay, so that's your grid.

And then you will need to consider how your findings from this extract link to that question above.

So there's lots to be getting on with, make sure you've got the text in front of you to find those relevant quotations.

And I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Don't forget to pause the video to get this done.

Off you go.

Thank you everybody.

So here is a completed grid with some quotations.

So you may wish take this opportunity to add to your own grid.

So let's look.

We've got our explanation.

Mrs. Birling shows disdain for the working class and class prejudice.

The quotations are admits she was prejudiced, she describes Eva as impertinent, there's that word again, and that sort of girl and states Eva's case wasn't good.

So we can see that disdain through those quotations.

Priestley uses dramatic irony to expose Mrs. Birling's arrogance.

So Mrs. Birling states that it's the father's responsibility and that he should be dealt with severely.

And we, as an audience, know that it's hinting that Eric is the father.

So we can see that dramatic irony happening there.

Mrs. Birling refuses to set any responsibility for Eva's death showing her lack of empathy.

She says that Eva can only blame herself and Mrs. Birling continually repeats that she hasn't done anything wrong.

So she refuses to accept any responsibility.

Mrs. Birling uses her power to deny Eva Smith help.

So the inspector refers to Mrs. Birling as prominent within her charity.

So she's an important member of the charity.

And how she uses her influence to have the case refused.

Okay, so we can see there how Mrs. Birling is really abusing her power to deny Eva Smith help.

So as I said earlier, you are going to be exploring this question in a moment.

How does Priestley portray the characters of Mrs., portray the character of Mrs. Birling throughout "An Inspector Calls"? I'd like you just to look back through your quotations and I'd like you to discuss, please, how do your quotations link to this question? Pause the video to give yourself enough time to fully explore your quotations in relation to that question.

Off you go.

Okay, great.

And now we are at the final part of our lesson.

We have explored Mrs. Birling in a lot of depth and now I want to consider how we are going to write about Mrs. Birling.

So when writing about a character, it can be useful to consider how they are presented throughout the play, not just one section but the whole thing.

So things that you might want to consider is how they are introduced and how their characterization is established.

So what happens at the beginning, how they develop, so what do we learn about the character and do they change at all? So kind of like the middle part of the text.

And then, at the end, what happens at the end and your lasting impressions of the character.

So this can be a really useful way to write and consider, write about and consider a character.

So just as a reminder, we are focusing on this question, how does Priestley portray the character of Mrs. Birling throughout "An Inspector Call"? In order to help us answer that question, I would like us just to discuss the following questions.

So these will draw on your findings from the previous learning cycles.

So the questions are how is Mrs. Birling initially introduced? How is Mrs. Birling developed as a character and what does Priestley reveal about her? And then finally, how is Mrs. Birling presented at the end and what are your lasting impressions of her? So there is lots to discuss there.

So make sure you pause the video to give yourself time to fully discuss those questions or think quietly to yourself.

Off you go.

Great, we have so many good ideas already, don't we? So let's just share some of those ideas.

We've done plenty of work already this lesson.

So these questions are just being answered really well.

So you may have considered that she's initially introduced as confident and focused on status, that she's dismissive of others, especially lower classes.

And then how is she developed? Well, she refuses responsibility for Eva's death.

She's judgemental and quick to blame others and shows ignorance of her family's flaws, particularly Eric.

And then finally that ending, how is she presented? She remains unchanged.

She prioritises reputation over morality.

So she prioritises reputation over morality.

Difficult to say that.

And the lasting impression of arrogance and failure to accept responsibility.

Okay, true or false? When writing about a character, you should only focus on a small extract of the play.

Is that true or false? I'm really hoping that we said false, but you now need to explain why that statement is false.

So can you tell me your answer now, please? Great, so hopefully you have something similar.

When writing about a character, it can be useful to consider how they are presented throughout the play to show how well you understand them.

I think that's a really important point that by referring to the play as a whole, it really shows your understanding of the character and the text as a whole.

So we're going to look at an example of an analytical paragraph answering the question, how does Priestley portray the character of Mrs. Birling throughout "An Inspector Calls"? So let's look at that example.

Let's read it through together, okay? So just follow through.

"Initially, Priestley presents Mrs. Birling as a powerful but unsympathetic character.

Her characterization is established in the stage directions where she's described as cold and superior, suggesting she's unemotional and detached, highlighting her lack of empathy.

This also reflects her pride in her status and her belief in class hierarchy.

Priestley does this to show how people like Mrs. Birling prioritise wealth and position over kindness.

Priestley wants the audience to see her as a symbol of selfishness and to question the attitudes of the upper class." So let's just see what this has done well.

So we can see we've got that topic sentence that addresses the question.

So, Priestley presents Mrs. Birling as powerful and unsympathetic.

So we have our topic sentence.

There are quotations from the text included here.

There were just some one worded quotations to link to that topic sentence.

There's an explanation and analysis of language choices.

So what does these language choices tell us and what they are doing.

And then finally that end part is all about linking to the writer's intention and the impact on the audience.

So this is what we're aiming for with our analytical paragraphs.

We want our lovely topic sentence that addresses the question, the quotations from the text that link to that topic sentence, an explanation and analysis of language choice and that link to writer's intention and audience.

So we've looked at an example, we've done lots of preparation work and now it is over to you to continue the model paragraph, which is available on the worksheet, by writing a further paragraph that answers the question, how does Priestley portray the character of Mrs. Birling throughout "An Inspector Calls"? So the grid you completed from Task B will help you with this and you can use the sentence starters also.

So, as the play progresses, Priestley reveals that Mrs. Birling and in Act 2, Mrs. Birling.

So as I say, we have done a lot of preparation for this question already.

It's now just time to continue that model paragraph by writing your own paragraph.

Pause the video and off you go.

Well done everyone.

That's really fantastic work.

You definitely have an understanding of the character of Mrs. Birling.

So what I'd like you to do now is just to self-assess your paragraph using the following questions.

So really look at your paragraphs and make sure you have included a topic sentence that addresses the question, quotations from the text, explanation and analysis of language choices, links to writer's intention so have you said "Priestley has done this to," or "Priestley's intention is" and its impact on the audience.

Pause the video to give yourself time to self-assess your paragraph.

Off you go.

And here we are, the end of the lesson and a very well done.

We can definitely say we have explored Mrs. Birling in some depth so well done.

So let's just recap everything we have looked at.

We know that Mrs. Birling could reflect stereotypical attitudes of upper class Edwardian society.

Priestley uses the older generation of Birlings to critique Edwardian attitudes.

Mrs. Birling's interrogation reveals her attitude towards the working class and social responsibility.

And when writing about a character, it can be useful to consider how they are presented throughout the play.

Thank you for joining me today.

Let's do this all again soon.

I'll see you then, goodbye.